Rattan furniture is among the most elegantly designed that money can buy, and the best rattan is no different. Rattan has its origins in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, particularly in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines; a type of climbing palm native to the region, it has been used in craft and furniture making for hundreds of years, thanks to its flexibility and strength, as well as the fact it was lightweight.
Fast-forward another century or so and rattan is a common sight in the gardens of people in the UK and other temperate countries like it, as much for its aesthetic value as its practical appeal. Rattan garden furniture has a natural, elegant look that blends well with outdoor settings, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere, and it comes in a wide array of styles and colours, meaning it will fit into whatever garden it is you aim to furnish. Whether contemporary or traditional, bright or shaded, grassy or paved, rattan garden furniture should fit in nicely.
What is the best rattan garden furniture in 2024?
Best natural rattan sofa: Lotte rattan 2-seater sofa, £1,295
Hand-made in Vietnam out of natural rattan, the Lotte sofa is about as close to a classic rattan sofa as one can feasibly imagine. Each piece is unique and woven using traditional techniques.
Best large rattan-effect sofa: Habitat Malta rattan-effect garden corner sofa set
The best thing about Habitat’s Malta set, which you may want to measure your garden for before you buy, is that it looks quite light on its feet (literally). Those angled legs mean the set is nowhere near as blocky as some of the larger rattan-effect corner sofas one can buy.
Best rattan furniture for rooftops or balconies: GoodHome Lazaretta natural rattan effect furniture set
The GoodHome set of two rattan chairs and a side table sold by B&Q is a great option for smaller outdoor areas like a rooftop or a balcony, because the chairs are quite compact and, being round, can be angled in whatever direction the space allows.
The best rattan garden furniture at a glance:
- Best rattan garden lounger: Outsunny rattan garden lounger,
£123£110.69 at - Best rattan dining set: Eden four-seat dining set, £1,649 at
- Best affordable rattan furniture set: Buyer Empire rattan garden furniture set, £114.99 at
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What is the difference between natural and synthetic rattan?
Like many materials used in manufacturing today, while there are still classic, natural pieces of rattan furniture, there are also those made from synthetic rattan. There are, as you might expect, some differences and trade-offs between the two.
Natural rattan is made from organic plant material, and therefore more subject to entropy and damage from time and weather than its synthetic counterpart. It is, however, very attractive and offers a unique and natural look which is hard to recreate in synthetic rattan. Synthetic rattan itself is made from man-made materials like polyethylene, and while designed to mimic the characteristics of rattan, it can be a little bit “plasticky”.